Deccy-minnow



W. R. NEUDECK.

DECOY'MINNUW. APPLICATION man :une l2. lazo.

Patented Deu. 20, 1921.

WESELY R. N-EDECY', 0F KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

DECOY-MINNOW.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Becco, 1921.

Application led June 12, 1920. Serial No. 388,602.

To all whom 'it 'may conce-m Be it known that I, VVESELY R. NEUDECK, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Kansas City, in the county of Wyandotte and State of kansas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Decoy- Minnows, Yof which the following is a complete specilication.

The present invetion relates to angling devices, and aims to providf an improved form of decoy minnow cons tnbztion having a propeller member whichisadapted to be actuated yin a convenient manner by the angler imparting movements to the minnow when the latter is in the water, and thereby simulate more or less the movements of a genuine minnow.

Accordingly I have devised an improved tackle construction of thi,A character in which usels made of an afitificial minnow which is provided with a propeller member, and with a tackle line which is connected with the artificial minnow and provided with propeller-actuating means operatingr through the said tackle line for imparting the necessary rotary movement to the propeller member.

In carrying out the invention in practice, I provide the artiiicial minnow with a propeller which is geared to the tackle line, the latter being constituted as a flexible shaft having suitable gearing within the handle portlon of the tackle 'and arranged to be conveniently operated by means of either a motor mounted within said handle portion or by manual means also associated with said gea-ring. With the foregoing objects in view, I will now describe the invention by means of reference to the accom panying drawings illustrating one form of construction which I have devised for embodying the proposed improvements, after which the novel features therein will be particularly set forth and claimed,

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation illustratinga fishing tackle having embodied therein a decoy minnow construction in accordance with the present invention;

Fig, 2 is an eniarged transverse section taken on the line -Jl of Fig. 1;

3 is a sectional detail illustrating the forro of atta:`n.nent between the fish hook and decoy? tig'nre of the construction; and

Fig. i a fragmentary detail view show ing the fish hook mounting.

Referring now to the said drawing in detail, this illustrates the improved tackle construction as comprising a decoy or arti- Vmeshing;1 with a similar beveled gear 9,

which ls 'secured to a short sha-ft 10 journaled in a suitable bearing 12 and in the' breast of the minnow 4, as clearly' illustrated in Fig. 1.

The exterior portion of the shaft 10 is formed with a terminal socket 1.4 and clamping screw 15 for the purpose rof providin a detachable connection between said shafIi and the end of the tackle line 16 which in the present case is of such a construction as to form a flexible shaft connection between the gearing within the minnow 4 and suitable actuating means inclosed within the housingr structure 17 associated with the handle portion 18 of the tackle rod 19, which as usual is formed in sections as shown in Fig. 1. To correspond with the sectional rod structure, the line or shaft 16 is also formed in sections within the rod 19, said sections being easily connected by means' of nipple portions 20 and threaded sockets 21.

That end of the line or shaft 16 which is near the handle 11S is fitted with a beveled gear 22 meshing with a bevel gear wheel 23 within the housing structure 17, said gear wheel 23 being mounted upon a transverse shaft 24 which is provided with an exterior operating handle or crank 25, as shown in Fig. 2; A stitening bracket element 26 is provided within the housing structure 17 for reinforcing the said housing structure and also providing a bearing for one endiof the shaft 24. It is apparent that by simply rotating the crank member 25, and thereb" turning the gear wheel 23, the line or sha 16 will be rotated and caused to impart corresponding rotation to the propeller mem.- ber 7 through the intermediate gearing 8 and 9. In case it should be desired to dispense with an operating handle such as indicated at 25, and ectuate the decoy structure through the medium of a motor, I have arranged to do this by mounting a suitable electric motor 27 within the handle ortion 18 adjacent to the housin 17, the s aft of this motonfbeingfprovide with u. wenn 29 which inturn meshes with aworm gear BOf-ecutefthe familiar movements of aminnowsecured upon the middle"'portion oflfithe 1in the water where the device is being emtransverse shaft 24 by meansof a set crew ployed. As is well known a lifelike move- 30. I-t will be apparent in this conn V onment4 of thebait is more likely to have the .that the set screwmust be: loosenedgto'gf"per-v vresult 'of attracting the attention of the fish mit the arO to rotate l freely-when Ithe than would a merely passive object in the shaft 24 1s rotated by means of the han dle'l water. Where the device is manually open.

25, as otherwise such rotation would beropated, by means of the handle 25,` a very life- Yraswill be readilyrun- -llke motion may be imparted to the minnow erstood. Afp'ai 1 hanger ,members 31- byv varying spasmodically the movements of are secured ilo-.the interior of thehousing the mlnnow in a manner readily understood;

structure positionfor providing bearings Where this is not feasible, or it is desired 32 for the `'motor shaft28 at opposite sides to set the tackle or operate a number of the of the worm-30., Themotor 27 need be only tackles at lthe same time, it will beV convenofl a very sinall sizyes'uiiicient for merely ient to make use of the feature of the motor providing such wer as would Vbe required 27, this automatically takin care of the acor operationl o tliefshaft` 16, and ,accordtuation of thepropeller mem erwithout any ing-1y the electric connections 33 to the moconstant attention on the part of the angler.

tor 27 maysimply be attached to a small While I have 4illustrated and 4described battery (not shown) ofl 'suilicient strength what I now regard as. the preferred form of for the purpose desired. l. constructionJ desire to reserve the right to I It is preferred to attach a sh hook 35 of make such changes or modifications as may the multiple prong type, by means of a block fairly fall Within the scope of the following l" 36 swivelly. connected with said hook and claim.

rotatably attached to the lower end of the WhatI claim is:

shaft 10 and retained thereon by means of a A lishing tackle 'comprsinga rod, an arsuitable nut 40, the shank of said hook betificial minnow provided with a propeller ing supported-by a yielding catch 37 promember,- a flexible shaft forming the tackle jecting outwardl from the body 4 of the line between said rod and `niinnow and rotaminnow. An el ow 38 is provided at the tably connected with the'latter, a fish hook free end of the rod 19, to accommodate the provided with a swivel connection with the' angular portion of the line 16 at this point. free end of said shaft, said connection pert will thus be apparent that I have demitting rotary movement of said shaft, the -vised a'simple, convenient, compact and eiiintermediate shank portion of said hook cient construction for carrying out the dehaving a detachable connection with the sired objects of the invention. By manal rninnow, and means operable through said operation of the handle 25, or by operation shaft for actuating sald propeller member. of the motor 27, the drive through the shaft In witness whereof I hereto affix my sig- 16 may be maintained for actuatlng the pro'- nature.

peller member 7 and the latter caused to ex- VVESEL7 R. NEUDECK. 

